fp
metro
Jewish Family Service
of Metropolitan Detroit
Chanukah spirit kept participants warm
during annual Downtown Detroit event.
With your support
through the
Friends of the Family
Campaign,
Jewish Family Service
is...
Rabbi Kasriel
Shemtov and
Marty Maddin
just completed
lighting the
massive
menorah.
F
...a resource for
older adults and
their loved ones.
Esther is 85 years-old and
is still living happily in her
home of over 40 years. JFS
supports Esther to remain
safe and independent by
providing subsidized home
care services, transportation
to medical appointments and
a weekly friendly visitor.
Last year JFS
.011 C9 0
Provided 29,000
rides for over 1,000
individuals in need
of transportation
to medical
appointments and
their work places
Connected nearly
400 individuals with
more than 50,000
hours of Home Care
Services to support
F
or the second year, Jews gathered Dec. 12 in
Downtown Detroit to light a public menorah and cel-
ebrate Chanukah as a community as part of Menorah
in the D.
Close to 1,500 people, dressed warmly against the very
cold evening, sipped warm cider or soup and enjoyed a sing-
along with Shlomi Hamer before the lighting. Other enter-
tainment came from the Wayne State University Marching
Band. A flashmob of BBYO teens danced to the song, Am
Yisrael Chai, and a group of students from the Chabad
Yeshiva in Oak Park dressed as dreidels to spread cheer.
This year, a majestic permanent menorah was built by
Erik and Israel Nordin of the Detroit Design Center. The
torch-like "candles" were lit by Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov of The
Shul and Marty Maddin, president of Federation's NEXTGen
Detroit, using a portable blow torch from the elevated basket
of a cherry picker.
Once the candles were blazing, the crowd sang the bless-
ings collectively, followed by more traditional Chanukah
songs led by Hamer. Many young children watched from
atop their fathers' shoulders.
A large, lighted Christmas tree at the other end of Campus
Martius gave a multicultural feel to the event — and to the
city, which is benefiting from an infusion of young Jews in
recent years.
Speakers included Rabbi Berel Shemtov of Chabad of
Michigan; Scott Kaufman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit; and Jeff Eisenshtadt, president of Title
Source, a company of Quicken Loans, which sponsored the
event.
Menorah in the D was hosted by The Shul/Chabad
Lubavitch in partnership with Federation's NEXTGen
Detroit. Music was sponsored by the Stephen Gottlieb Music
Festival of the Jewish Community Center.
❑
Ilanit Atias and Charles Atias Gorcyca of Farmington Hills
stay warm.
daily needs
• Assisted close to
600 Holocaust
Survivors obtain
restitution and other
services
Your Donation
Can Make a Difference
www.jfsdetroitorg/friend
248-592-2339
12
December 20 • 2012
JN
Left: Downtown Detroit seems to wrap its arms around the menorah during the Menorah in the D event Dec. 12.
Right: Chabad Yeshiva students Yisrolik Shemtov of West Bloomfield, Levi Dubov of New Jersey, Levi Gourarie of Oak
Park and Levi Danov of Leeds, England, dressed as dreidels to spread holiday cheer.